Carlene Pinto

Carlene Pinto is a national organizer and social justice advocate for immigration and criminal justice reform, and is currently the Immigration Campaign Manager for the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), which represents more than 200 organizations across the State of New York.

Ms. Pinto has deep roots in both Brooklyn and Upper Manhattan. She has a passion for social justice and taking action, often challenging the status quo when, even as a young school-aged student, she recognized unfairness around her. Ms. Pinto received her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice with a minor in Disaster Relief Psychology from The State University of New York at New Paltz. As an undergraduate, she interned with the Department of Emergency Management, the American Red Cross and the United Way. She is also a member of Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Incorporated, a nationally recognized multicultural sorority focused on diversity, service and empowerment.

Before joining the NYIC, Ms. Pinto worked with Riverside Church as the Coordinator of Mission and Social Justice Programming. There, she provided support to 17 different programs focused on human rights and equality. Ms. Pinto also served as an outreach liaison for the Justice League NYC, a task force under the umbrella organization Gathering for Justice, founded by civil rights leader Harry Belafonte. She has also led and supported hundreds of local and national direct actions and mobilizations, and has helped bring thousands of people together to advocate for social and institutional change. Some of these mobilizations have gained national recognition, including the Climate March, the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington, the #March2Justice, the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March, the Women’s March and #NoBanNoWall.

Ms. Pinto was born in Brooklyn and is the youngest of three. She is the daughter of Carlos, a first generation Cuban immigrant, and Patricia, a third generation Irish Roman Catholic.

As a young professional, Ms. Pinto has already spent a decade organizing and advocating for intersectional campaigns. She is truly a voice for the voiceless.